Police forces in tandem for charity cycle

The PSNI may have lost their first Gaelic football match against the gardaí but the two forces are now set to cycle the length of Ireland together to raise money for charity

The 392-mile journey will begin in September in Mizen Head in Cork and finish in Malin Head in Donegal five days later.

“We’re going in that direction, rather than from Malin Head to Mizen head, because we want to get the prevailing south-westerly wind,” said Sergeant Eunan Malone from the Harcourt Square Special Detective Unit.

At the launch in St Stephen’s Green in Dublin today, Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy resisted pressure to hop on the bike, but he did pose with the cyclists and model Gail Kaneswaren.

Both the gardaí and the PSNI have taken part in sponsored cycles before, but this is the first time they have cycled together.

There are six officers from the PSNI and six from the Garda on the team and the organisers hope to recruit another 50 sponsored cyclists to meet the fundraising target of €100,000.

The cyclists, wearing bright yellow jerseys, will pass through a number of towns and cities including Cork, Limerick, Carrick-on-Shannon, Enniskillen and Omagh. The longest stage will be the 110-mile cycle between Carrick-on-Shannon and Newtownstewart.

“We’re building up in training at the moment and we hope to be ready by September,” said Sgt Malone.

He added that the team and their back-up car would be mainly using secondary roads to minimise contact with traffic.

The money raised will go to the Irish Cancer Society, the Ulster Cancer Foundation and Co-operation Ireland, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

“We’ve helped more than 250 groups on both sides of the border to come together with people from other communities,” said Cooperation Ireland events officer Susan Woodcock.

Those interested in joining the sponsored cycle should contact Co-operation Ireland at 01 6610588.